Kennel Club at war over payoff to ‘n***** in the woodpile’ chief
A SIX- FIGURE payment to the longstanding secretary of the Kennel Club after she used a racially offensive phrase was made without the requisite authorisation, insiders have revealed.
The revelation threatens to plunge the club into further turmoil following the departure of Caroline Kisko after 21 years.
As The Mail on Sunday exclusively reported last week, she left her post after using the expression ‘n***** in the woodpile’ at a meeting with two colleagues.
The 63-year-old immediately made an apology, which she believed had been accepted.
However, two days later a complaint was made by a member of staff whose partner is black and Mrs Kisko was given a six-figure payoff by the club, whose patron is the Queen.
But now an urgent review ordered by the board into the circumstances of Mrs Kisko’s departure has revealed the payment breached the club’s rules.
The board and almost 1,500 members are supposed to ratify at a special meeting all payments made over £100,000, as laid out in the Kennel Club year book.
Board directors, angry they had not been informed or consulted about the manner of Mrs Kisko’s departure, now fear the membership could make them personally liable to reimburse the Club for her payout.
The 24 directors have been summoned to an emergency board meeting on Wednesday t o be updated on the latest turn of events at the 146-year-old Mayfair club.
The board, chaired by Tony Allcock, a former English bowls champion, is anxious to know of any other six-figure payments made without its knowledge in relation to staff departures or any other spending.
Rosemary Smart, its chief executive, and Kevin McGuirk, chief financial officer and head of human resources, have been asked for the information.
Mr McGuirk and the Kennel Club are also facing allegations of racism from a current employee at a case due at an employment tribunal in November. Some members, however, are urging the board to order a ‘ root and branch’ independent review of the management.
One, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘The board is not at fault. The problem is the executive is making decisions which should be taken by the board. People are worried – the directors are not all rich.’
A stalwart Kennel Club member said: ‘The KC is supposed to be the governing body for dogs and we have all this unrest and in-fighting. The problem is the senior staff are no longer dog people. It’s not good for the dog world or dogs.’
The Kennel Club declined to make any comment. It is understood Mr McGuirk denies any wrongdoing.